Sugar-cane harvester



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

H. FATIG.

SUGAR GANE HARVESTER.

180.387,061. Patented July 3l, 1888.

7C, INT/'ENTOVR, I6

MQ d WITNESSES,

N. paens. Pmwmmsmphr. washmgvnn. D. c,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. PATIO.

SUGAR GANE HARVESTER.

No. 387,061. Patented July 31, 1888.

4 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

H. FAT-IC.

SUGAR GANE HARVESTER. No. 887,061. 25 Patented Jul 81, 1888.l

WITNESSES,

N. PETERS. Phnmunmgmplwr, wnhmgmn, D. C

(No Model.) y 4 sheets-sheen 4.

. H. FATIG.

SUGAR GANE HARVESTER.

N0. 387,061, I Patented J111yv31,`1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT v EETcE.

HENRY FATIC, OF MIDDLETOWN, INDIANA.

SUGAR-CANE HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,061, dated July 31, 1888.

Application filed April 18, 1887. Serial No. 235,972.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY FATIO, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Henry and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improveniente in Sugar-Cane Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying1 drawings, which forni a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my new and improved caneharvester. Fig. 2 is a lon gitudinal central vertical sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central vertical sectional view looking in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the lower circular cutters. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the forward ends of the top pieces, O O, hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a part of one of the carrier-belts. Fig. 8 is aperspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the front end of the machine. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View showing the manner in which the pulley U', hereinafter described, is journaled to the top piece, O; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of the carrier-belt.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consistsin an improved sugarcane harvester which cuts, tops, strips the blades from the cane, and loads the stripped cane on a wagon, and which is also adapted for use as a broom-cornseed stripper; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A A indicate the parallel longitudinal side pieces of the base of the machine-frame, which are supported near their rear ends upon the axle B,whichis provided with drive-wheels formed, like the usual reaper-wheels, with exterior spurs on their periphery, which enter the ground, and thus prevent the drive-wheels from slipping or sliding along the ground without turning. These side pieces extend rearward of the axle B and support the loader-frame,

(No model.)

which will be hereinafter described. A clear space is left between the side pieces, A, for their entire length in front of the rear axle, and they are supported at their forward ends upon an axle, C, journaled in the lower ends of uprights or posts EF, and formed with a central double crank, G, which inclines forwardly. The outer ends of this forward axle, C, carry drive-Wheels D D', which are similar in construction to the drive-wheels ofthe rear axle, being formed on their periphery with exterior spurs. The forward ends of the side pieces, A A, are not supported directly upon the forward axle, C; but its (the axles) straight ends pass through the lower ends of uprights E F, hereinbefore mentioned. These uprights are connected at their upper ends by an arched spring-bar, G,while the lower end of the upright E is pivotally connected to the forward end of the right-hand side piece A, as shown at H, Fig. 8,while the forward end of the lefthand side piece A has a curved horn or extension, A2,on its front end, extending forward so as to lie over and rest upon the left-hand end of the forward axle, as shown in Fig. 8, whereby the forward ends of the side pieces are supported in such a manner as to admit of the forward axle turning readily with the tongues of the niachinein turning the machine at the end of a row.

To the front sides of the uprights E and F and the straight ends ofthe axle C :are rigidly secured the rear ends of the two tongues J J, which lie parallel to each other at a distance of about one foot apart. A draft-lever, K, is pivoted upon each tongue, near the rear end of the same, having a suitable hook or staple at its outer end for the attachment of a singletree of the usual construction, one horse being thus attached on the outer side of each tongue. The draft-levers K K are connected, as shown, by links, chains, or the like to the ends ofa lever, L, centrally pivoted to the under side of the machine-frame, near the rear axle of the same, so that as one draft-lever turns forward on its pivot the other will be drawn back, as will be readily understood.

The tongues J J are curved outwardly at their forward free ends, so that as the machine is drawn forward straddling a row the ends of the tongues will be sure to pass on each side of the row of stalks, and thus bring the said row between tongues. Each tongue is connected to the top of the uprights E and F by the curved brace-rods L L', which serve to brace the tongues, and the more important purpose of assisting in conducting the canes in a perfectly upright position to the cutter and carriers at the forward end of the machineframe.

Upon the front and rear ends of the side pieces A are secured, respectively, the parallel uprights M and N,upon the upper ends of Which are secured the longitudinal top pieces, O O, the forward ends ofwhich are extended through the arched spring G, to project in advance of the uprights E F, and are curved somewhat downward at vtheir forward ends, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

'Upon the hub of the right-hand drive-wheel, D, is secured a pulley, D2, and a drive belt or chain, P, passes around this pulley and over a small pulley, Q, on the outer end of a short transverse shaft, Q, journaled in the arched Spring G, and on the inner end of which shaft is mounted a miter-wheel, Q2, which meshes with a similar ruiter-wheel, R, on a stud-axle, r. A drive belt or chain, S, passes around a pulley, T, secured or formed on this miterwheel R, the said belt then passing forward and around a pulley, U, on the upper end of a short vertical shaft, U, mounted in abracket, Z2, secured to the under forward side of the right hand top piece O. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings.) Around this pulley U also passes the rear end of a feeding-belt, V, the forward end of which passes around a pulley, XV, at the forward end of an extension, X, on that end of the right-hand top piece O. This belt V, which Iterm the feeding-belt,77 is provided with a number of projecting teeth, V, as shown. chine is driven forward,with the tongues straddling the row of sugar-cane, the tops of the canes (the canes being held in a perfectly upright position by the guide-rods L L) will be pressed by the projecting teeth V of the feedingbelt V in between the top-cutters Y Z on the forward ends of the top pieces, O O. At the moment the stalks are thus fed to the carrier-belts U2 and V2, hereinafter described, their lower end comes into contact with acircular stalk-cutter, C2. rlhis circular stalk-cutter consists of an upper stationary cutterblade, D2, which is formed with the diametrically opposite upwardlyextending arms E5, which are provided in their upper portions with the longitudinal slots E6 E, through which project the stationary bolts E2, secured in the inner sides ofthe tongues .Land having screwed upon their projecting ends nuts E2, by means of which the slotted arms E5 are rendered vertically adjustable.

C2 indicates the revolving lower circular cutter, which is secured in operative position below the stationary cutter D3 by a short stubaxle, H2, which passes from the center of the lower blade up through a central opening in It will be seen that as the mal the upper blade, and upon the upper end of which is secured a miter-wheel, H2, which meshes with a similar initer-whecl, I2, on the inner end of a transverse shaft, J2. On the outer end of this shaft is secured apulley, K2, around which passes a belt, L2, from a pulley on the inner end of a transverse shaft, M2,jour naled to the intermediate portion of the lefthand tongue J. On the outer end of this shaft M2 is a toothed wheel, N2, which meshes with a gear-wheel, O2, secured conceutrically to the inner side of the left-hand drive-wheel of the forward axle, as shown.

The circular stalk-cutter is raised and lowered by the lever F2, fulcruined upon the lefthand tongue J in advance of the shaft M2 and having the operating-handle F2, and to the forward end of this lever is secured the upper end of the cord F, which extends down and is secured at its lower end to the upper blade, D2. Now, it will be seen that by drawing back the handle of this lever F2 the upper end of the cord F6 will be pulled up and the circular cutter will be raised, and can thus be adjusted up or down. The stalks of the cane will thus be cut close to the ground (or at any desired height, as the cutter may be raised when desired) at the moment when the top of the cane is fed in between vthe top-cutters Y Z, journaled in brackets Z2, secured to the forward ends of top pieces O. The teeth of these cutters will cut the tops from the cane and then convey the stalks to the carrier-belts, which I will now proceed to describe.

The top pieces O are out away on their upper sides, at the inner edge thereof, for their entire length, thus forming the longitudinal vertical rib O3 and the longitudinal inner horizontal ledge, P2, the pieces O being connected and braced at their rear ends by the yoke R2 and at their forward ends by the yoke R4, which supports also the central portion of the arched spring-barG. The horizontal ledge P2 is more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10 of the drawings. Ateach end of the vertical rib O2 of each top piece O is journaled a roller, T2, the rear ones of which are mounted upon the upper ends of the vertical shafts B2 and B2 at the rear of the machine, while the forward rollers are journaled in brackets Z2 Z2, secured to the under forward sides of the said top pieces O, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawlngs.

Around the rollers or pulleys ofeach top piece O passes one of the carrier-belts, U2 V2, each ofwhich is formed of L-shaped links or sections W2, which engage the rollers or sprocket at each end of each top piece O, and which are pivoted together at their ends, so as to forni an endless chain or belt, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 10 of the drawings, every third section having secured upon it a projecting notched catch or tooth, W 2', and the teeth of the two carrier-belts intermeshing though not v touching on the inner sides of the top pieces O O, and it will be seen that the canes, after having been topped by the top-cutters Y Z,

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which are journaled above the intermcshiug teeth, the upper ends, which project above the teeth, will be eanghtand carried back through the machine through the two stripper-frames A3 A4, and will thus be firmly heldin position by the intermeshing teeth against the downward pull of the strippers. The rear pulleys, mounted, as described, upon the vertical shafts B2 B3, have passed around them the carrierbelts U'l V2. These vertical shafts are provided at their lower ends below the machine-frame with miter-wheels C, meshing with similar miter-wheels on a transverse shaft, D3, which extends beneath and across the under sides of the rear portions of the side pieces A A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This shaft is rotated by having a pinion on its righthand end meshing with a gear-wheel, E, secured concentrically on the inner side of the right-hand rear drive-wheel, and by this arrangement the carrier-belts are driven.

A3 Al indicate the stripper-frames, which consist each of a rectangular frame, across the inner side of which is secured transversely a series (about tive) of stripper-bars, H3, which are arranged preferably parallel to one another. These frames are movably mounted between the uprights M N on upper and lower crank-shafts, l" Ji, the ends of which arejournaled in the uprights M and N. The projecting rear ends of these crank-shafts are provided with miter-wheels K3, which mesh with similar miter-wheels, K2, on the Vertical shafts B2 B3; and it will be seen that as the said vertical shafts are rotated from the rear drivewheel the crank-shafts are rotated aud the stripper-frames will be alternately swung in as they move down and will be swung outwardly ou their upward movement.

Immediately above the rear -part of the circular cutter C2, and extending back and upward, is arrangeda conveyer-apron, L, which passes around transverse rollers Ms N, the forward lower one, M3, of which is jourualed in the arms E5 of the circular stalk-cutter, while the rear upper one, N3, is journaled in brackets secured to the side pieces A A, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. The roller M3 is rotated by the usual belt-gearing, L5, which receives motion from the short transverse shaft J2, hereinbefore described, and immediatel y back of the rear end of this couveyer, ou the side pieces A A, is arranged a platform, 0, over which the lower ends of the canes pass immediately after leaving the upper end of the convcyer apron L3.

lt will be secu that while the strippers are in operation the canes will be held firmly in position by the iutermeshing teeth of the carrier-bells, which teeth securely clamp the canes and prevent them from being drawn downward while they are being stripped, as hereinbefore mentioned.

It will be seen that by the time the canes have passed through between the stripperframes all the blades will have been stripped from them, and when they pass out through Athe elevated end of the loader.

the rear ends of the carrier-belts and are free ofthe same they will fall upon the lower portion of the loader, which loads the stripped cane upon a wagon. A platform, P3, is arranged at that point on which the lower ends of the stripped canes rest when they are freed from the teeth of the carrier-belts, and at the momeutthe'lower ends ofthe canes alight upon this platform their tops are struck by the arms of reels Q3,which are secured, as shown,on the vertical shafts BiBi, and are formed, preferably, each with four arms; and it will be seen that these reels will operate upon the canes as they rest upon the rear platform, P3, and throw them straight back upon and across the lower part of the loader.

This loader consists of three or more parallel belts, S, upon and across which are secured transversely strips or bars T3, which are formed with outwardly-projecting fingers or teeth U3. These vbelts pass at their upper ends around rollers V3 on a shaft,W3, which, journaled in the upper ends of the posts X3, which incline to the left-hand side of the machine and upwardly from the left-hand extension of the side piece A at the rear of the uprights M and N, while the lower ends of these belts pass around rollers Y3 on a shaft, Z, which turns in bearings on the right-hand extension of the said side piece A, as shown, and theiuner end of this shaft Z3 is provided with a unter-wheel, Z which meshes with a similar miter-wheel, B,on one end of a shaft, A, which is journaled in suitable bearings on the rearward eXtensions of the side pieces A. The opposite end of this shaft A4 is provided with a miter-wheel, Bi', which is driven by the cog-wheel B, fixed to the left-hand side of the rear axis, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, thus imparting motion to the loader. Apinion, B5, on the other end of this shaft meshes with a gear-wheel, B, secured concentrically to the inner side of the left-hand rear drive-wheel of the machine. By this arrangement the loader-belts are revolved around their pulleys.

Curved guide-rods C* extend from the upper part of the upright-s M N down to the rear ends of the pieces A, and thus assist in guiding the stripped canes in their fall, onto the loader. The left-hand one of these guide-rods does not extend as far rearwardly as the other one. Thus it will be seen that it will not interfere with the movement of the loader, as shown in Figs. l and 3. It will now be observed that, in operation, as the machine is drawn forward the stalks of the cane will be cut, their tops cut off, then carried back between the stripper-frames, which rapidly and effectively strip the blades from the cane-stalk, and the stripped stalks are then laid upon the loader, which raises and deposits them in a Wagon which is driven along that side of the machine beneath The upper ends of the stripper-frames are connected pivotally by connecting-rods D* DL to the ends of the cross beam or walking-beam E4, which is centrally and pivotally secured upon the yoke IOO IIO

R5, which is secured to the top pieces O, the stripperframes thus balancing each other in operation.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that it is exceedingly effective and rapid in its operation and strong and durable in its construction.

I claiml. The combinatiomwith the machine-frame, of the tongues secured to the forward portion thereof, the stalk-cutter consisting of the stationary circular cutter-plate formed with teeth at its forward edge and provided at its sides with upwardextending arms, the upper ends of which are formed with longitudinal slots, bolts, and nuts for securing the same to the tongues,and the circular revolving cutter-plate havingknives on its periphery and means, substantially as set forth, for rotating it.

2. The combination,with the machine-frame, of the tongues secured to the forward portion thereof, the curved guide-rods secured to said tongues with one end and extending upward and rearward and secured at their other ends to the upper part of the machine-frame, a rotary stalk-cutter supported by arms depending from saidtongues, a feed-belt at the top of the machine, provided with projections or teeth, the top cutters immediately in the rear of this feed'belt, and the interineshing carrier-belts running along the top of the machinein the rear of the top cutters, and gearing, substantially as described, for operating the several parts from the drive-wheels of the machine.

3. The combinatiomwith the machinefran1e having the parallel tongues, of the rotary stalkcutter, the carrier belts, and the stripperframes mounted on the crank-shafts, and gearing, substantially as described, for operating the several parts from the machine drivewheels.

4. The combination,with the machine-frame, of the stalk-cutter, the feed-belt, the carrierbelts, and the stripper-frames mounted on the crank-shafts and pivotally connected to the centrally-pivoted walking-beam, and gearing, substantially as described, for operating the several parts from the machine drive-wheels.

5. Thecombinatiomwith themachine-frame, of thc stripper-frames mounted on the crankshafts and pivotally connected to the centrally-pivoted walking-beam on the machineframe and provided with the transverse bars formed with fingers or teeth, and means, substantially as described, for rotating the said crank-shafts.

G. The combinaliomwith the machine-frame having parallel tongues, ofthe curved guides, the rotary stalk-cutter, the elevator, the feedbelt, the top-cutters, and the strippers mounted on the crank-shafts, and gearing, substantially as described, for operating the several parts from the machine drive-wheels.

7. Thecombination,with themachine-frame,- 

